Temperature-measuring instrument.



TJSPOONER.

TEMPERATUREMEASURING INSTRUMENT.

- APPLICATION HLED MAY 28, ms.

1,227,337, Patented May 22,1911.

" INVENTOR ymww ZATTUBNEY A v wlTNEss EsL v I UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

THOMAS SPIJONER, OF WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TEMPERATURE-MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

for the temperature of the cold junction of the same.

A thermoelectric generator or a thermocouple that is adapted to measure temperature variations, must have some electrical measuring instrument, such as a potentiometer, for indicating its voltage variations, which are proportional to the difference in temperatures of its hot and cold junctions. The usual thermo-couple for accurate temperature measurements, consists of two dissimilar metals joined together at one point, each having high thermo-electric power and neither having an inversion of its thermoelectric properties within the limits of temperature for which the couple is to be used. The cold junctions of the thermo-couple are subject to temperature variations that are due to conduction and radiation; hence, for accurate measurements of temperature, it is essential to know the temperature of the cold junctions for each reading. The usual method employed is to keep the cold junction in a vacuum bottle or other well insulated receptacle and note its temperature for each reading of the potentiometer or to have the thermo-couple leads of such length that the cold ends are of substantially the same tem- I perature as the air.

Since it is very expensive to extend the leads of a rare-metal thermo-couple any appreciable distance, I have provided an auXiliary-base-metal couple for measuring the temperature of the cold junction of the main thermo-couple, and I also provide a potentiometer for indicating the hot-junction temperature of the main thermo-couple temperatures as measured by directly, correcting for its cold-junction the auxiliary thermo-couple.

Although I have explained the principle and advantages of my invention, a better idea of its adaptability may be had by re ferring to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 3 is a plan-view of the arrangement of the pointer and dial of the potentiometer shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a view of the dial and pointer shown partially in elevation and partially in section.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my invention comprises a potentiometer-1, main rare-metal thermo-couples 2, a standard cell 3, a galvanometer-l, auxiliary basemetal 'thermo-couples 5 and a second source of electro-Inotive force 6.

The junction points 7 of the main thermocouples 2 are inserted in receptacles 8, the temperatures of which are desired to be measured. The cold-junction terminals 9 and 10 of thermo-couples 2 are placed in well insulated receptacles 11, with the junction points 12 of the auxiliary thermo-couples 5. The terminals 9 of the thermocouples 2 are connected together electrically by a conductor 13 that extends to a stationary contact member 14 of a switch 15. The movable contact member 16 of the switch15 is connected to the galvanometer 4, and the other stationary contact member is connected to the standard cell 3 by a conductor 18. Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the conductor 18 divides at a point 19 to form a complete potentiometer circuit 20, comprising a fixed resistor 21, a second resistor 22, a third resistor 23, a source of electromotive force 6 and a fourth resistor 24:. The resister 23 is composed of two sections 25 and 26 connected in parallel relation. The permanent resistor section 26 is of such value that the voltage drop per division in the resistors 22 and 23 bear the same ratio to each other as the thermal increase of electromotive forces in the thermo-couples 2 and 5, respectively bear to each other. The remaining terminal of the galvanometer 4 is connected to a point 27 between the resistors 22 and 23. A movable contact member 28 engages the contact members with which the I resistor 22 is provided and is connected contact member of a switch 36, the stationductor 48, to the movable contact member.

ary contact member of which is connected to the movable contact member 37 of a multipoint switch 38. The several contact points 39 of the'switch are connected to the terminals 40 of the respective auxiliary thermocouples 5. The other terminals 41 of the thermo-couples 5 are connected together and to the stationary contact member 14 of the switch 15 by the conductor 13.

The modification of my invention shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the conductor 18 divides at the point 19 to form a complete potentiometer circuit 20 comprising a fixed resistor 21, a second resistor 42, a source of electromotive force 6, and a third resistor 24. A movable contact member 43 is adapted to engage the contact members with which the resistor 42 is provided and is connected to a point 44 on a resistor 45. The'terminals 9 of the main thermo-couple 2 are connected together, as are the terminals 41 of the couples 5, and both sets of terminals are" connected to a terminal 46 of the resistor 45. Terminal 47 of the resistor 45 is connected, by a con- 49 of a multipoint contact switch 50, the stationary contact members 51 of which are connected through resistors 52, to the terminals 40 of the respective couples 5. The

terminals 10 of thermo-couples 2 are con-v nected to the stationary contact members 53 of a multipoint switch 54 the movable member 55 of which is connected, by a conductor 56, to the stationary contact member 14 of the switch 15. The point 44 is so located that the ratio of the resistance between the point 44 and a point 46 to the total resistance of the circuit inclosed by the points 46, 46 41 12, 40, 52, 51, 4.9, 48 and 47 equals the ratio of the increase in electromotive force of one main thermo-couple 2 to the increase in electromotive force of the increase in corresponding auxiliary thermo-couple 5. The point 44 may be determined experimentally since the electromotive forces of the thermocouples are known and the resistance of the entire circuit may be measured by any of the well known methods. The resistors 52 are so proportioned that every auxiliary thermo-couple circuit has the same resistance.

The thermo-couples 2 and 5 should have the same thermo-electric characteristics between the limits through which they differ in temperature, that is, equal temperatures will produce relative thermo-electromotive forces. If the characteristics are the same, the resultant temperature may be read directly on a movable scale 57 by a movable pointer 58 or by a fixed scale and a movable pointer, as shown in the modified form of Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the scale 57, having a knob 57, is connected by a suitable structure 59 to the contacting member 28 so that, when scale 57 is turned, the contact member 28 will make electrical contact on different parts of resistor 22. The pointer 58 is connected rigidly to the contact member 34. The terminals 40 and 41 of the thermo-couples 5 are assumed to be at such distance from the hot junctions 12 that they may be either maintained at a constant temperature or at the temperature of the air which may be determined by a thermometer.

The operation of my invention is similar to that of any direct-reading potentiometer in that the scale 57 and the pointer 58 are placed in their initial positions, the switch member 15 is placed in contact with the contact 'member 17, and the resistor 24 is adjusted until the galvanometer 4 shows no deflection. Since the voltage of the standard cell 3 is known and since the cells 3 and 6 are opposed to each other, when no current traverses the galvanometer 4 the potential drop across the resistors 22 and 23 is known. To take a reading or to compare the potential generated by the thermo-couples to the known potential drop, the multipoint switches are set on any pair of corresponding thermo-couples. The spring switch 30 is depressed and, with switch member 15 in engagement with the contact member 14, the pointer 58 is rotated until the galvanometer 4 reads zero. This is a measure of the generated potential of the thermocouple 2. The spring-controlled switch 30 is next released and the spring-controlled switch 86 is depressed to place the auxiliary thermo-couples in circuit, then the scale 57 i is rotated by the knob 57 until the gal- This is a vanometer again comes to zero. measure of the generated potential of the thermo-couple 5. The reading of pointer 58 on scale 57 will be proportional to the temperature of the receptacle 8. Since the pointer 58, with the scale-57 in its initial position, indicates the generated potential of the thermo-couple 2 and this is proportional to the difl'erence in temperature between the junctions 7 and 12 of the thermo couples -2 and 5, respectively, and since the distance the scale 57 is moved from its initial position indicates, for the same reason, the difi'erence in temperature between the junction 12 and the terminals 40 and41 that are maintained at zero degrees, the indication of the pointer 58 on the scale 57 indicates the sum of the two readings or the temperature of the receptacle 8.

The modification of my invention shown in Fig. 2 is operated similarly to the one shown in Fig. 1 with the exception that, as there is only one fixed scale and one movable pointer that reads directly on the fixed scale, the temperature can be read off directly after the resistors 24, 4:5 and 52 have together with the apparatus which I now consider the most advanced and the best embodiment thereof, I do not limit my in vention to any particular form of construc' tion, or material, since many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention: r 1. A temperature-measuring instrument comprising two thermo-couples and a potentiometer operatively connected to the thermo-couples and adapted to determine the difference in temperature between the hot and cold junctions thereof and to indicate the sum of said temperature differences. 2.-A measuring instrument comprising a main and an auxiliary thermo-couple, a receptacle containing the cold junction of the main and the hot junction of the auxiliary thermo-couple, a potentiometer operatively connected to the thermo-couples for deter mining the difi'erence in temperature between the junctions of the main thermocouple, and means operatively connected to the auxiliary thermo-couple for increasing this indication an amount proportional to the difference in temperature between the junctions of the auxiliary thermocouple.

'3. In a temperature-measuring instrument, the combination with a main thermocouple, of areceptacle containing the cold junction of said thermo-couple, a second thermo-couple having its hot junction also in said receptacle and in close proximity to the cold junction of said main thermocouple, means connected to said main thermo-couple for measuring the difference .in temperature between its hot and cold junctions, means connected with said sec ond thermo-couple for measuring the difi'erence in temperature of the cold junction of said main thermo-couple and the temperature of the room, and means for indicatin the temperature of the hot junction of said main 'thermo-couple.

4. In a temperature-measuring instrument, the combination with a main thermocouple, of a receptacle containing the cold junction of said thermocouple, a second thermocouple having its hot junction also in the said receptacle and in close proximity to the cold junction of the mainthermocouple, and potentiometer circuits operatively connected to the thermo-couples for determining the temperature differences of the junctions of the thermo-couples and for measuring thereby directly the temperature of the hot junction of the main thermocouple.

5. In a temperature-measuring instrument, the combination with a main thermo couple, of a receptacle containing the cold junction of said thermo couple, a second thermo-couple having its hot junction also in said receptacle and in close proximity to the cold junction of said main thermo couple, potentiometer circuits comprising a source of electromotive force, a standard cell, a galvanometer, a plurality of rein saidreceptacle and in close proximity to the cold junction of said main thermocouple, a potentiometer circuit comprising an adjustable resistor having an indicating pointer fixed to its movable member, a second adjustable resistor located below said first resistor, a movable scale fixed to said second resistor, a resistor in shunt to said second resistor, a standard cell, a second source of electromotive force, a galvanom- 'eter, and a plurality of conductors for electrically connecting said movable memhere to the respective thermocouples, said pointer and scale being arranged to indicate the temperature of the hot junction of the said main thermo-couple.

7 The combination with a main and an auxiliary thermo-couple and a receptacle for containing the cold junctions of the main and the hot junction of the auxiliary thermo-couple, of a potentiometer operatively connected to the thermo couples and com prising means for so determining the differences in temperatures between the hot and cold junctions of each thermo-couple that the sum of the effects of the thermalelectromotive forces of the two thermocouples on the potentiometer is an indication of the temperature of the hot junction of the main thermo-couple.

8. The combination with a main and an auxiliary thermo-couple and an inclosing receptacle for the cold junction of the main and the hot junction of the auxiliary thermo-couple, of a potentiometer comprising two cooperating potentiometer conductors one of which is connected to one thermo-couple and the other of which is operatirely connected to the other thermo-couple, and means operatively connected therewith for indicating the sum of the effects of the' thermal-electromotire forces on the potentiometer as determined by the potentiometer conductors.

9. The combination with a main and an auxiliary thermo-couple having relatively different thermal-electric characteristics, of means operatively connected to the auxiliary thermo-couple to cause its thermal-electric characteristics .to correspond to that of the.

main thermo-couple, and a potentiometer operatively connected to the main thermocouple and the said means for changing the characteristics of the auxiliary thermocouple for determining the sum of the temperature differences between the hot and cold junctions of the said thermo-couples.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of May. 1913.

THOMAS SPOONER.

Witnesses B. B.-HINES, M. C. MERZ.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,227,337.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,227,337, granted May 22, 1917, upon the application of Thomas Spoener, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, for an s improvement in Temperatm-e-Measuring Instruments, errors appeer in the I printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 99, strike out the word "thermal," and same line after the word of insert the word thermal; page 2, line 51, etiike out the words "increase in; same page, line 54, before the word "electromotive insert the words increase in; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Offioe.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of July, A. D., 191?.

F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Gommiua'oner 0] Fauna. 

